Apparatus for electrodeposition



es. 4, 1928. 61,693,683 E. M. WANAMAKER APPARATUS FOR ELECTRODEPOS ITIONFiled Aug. 19, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 4, 1928. i

llfi ifiidd PATENT FHCE.

ELMER M. WANAMAKER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO ANACONDA SALES GOM-PANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

APPARATUS FOR ELECTRODEPOSITION.

Application filed August 19, 1926. Serial No. 130,136.

This invention relates to electrolytic apparatus and is concerned moreparticularly with apparatus which is used for electroplating articles ofuniform size in large quantities. The apparatus is particularly usefulin the manufacture of so-called copperclad roofing elements whichconsist ofa base of various non-metallic materials such as im--pregnated roofing felt and a layer or coating of copper or otherweather-resistant metal on that part of the felt which is normallyexposed to the weather when the elements are laid in courses in theusual way.

In Patent No. 1,593,397 issued July 20, 1926, there is described amethod and apparatus for the production of these copperclad products andthe apparatus includes apair of electrolytic cells of considerable.length together with a plurality of frames or carriages each of whichsupports a series of anodes. Between adjacent anodes are placed theroofing element bases which have previously been given a conductingcoating over -those surfaces which are to receive the deposit. Intheoperation of the device, pairs of bases are placed back to backbetween adjacent anodes in each carriage and the conducting coatings areseparated from the anodes by suitable insulating members. Suitablecontact strips which engage the conducting coatings on the bases are inturn conlltt'i'fitl to individual contact members which make contactwith the negative bus bar extending along the cell and each anode islikewise connected to a contact member which reccives current from thepositive bus bar at the side of the cell.

The conveyor has a large number of such carriages and the carriages aremoved by it through an endless path. They pass through the upper of thesuperimposed cells and in such movement current flows into the cellthrough anodes causing the metal of which they are composed to go-intosolution. Ourrent is likewise withdrawn from the cell throughtheconducting coatings of the bases and the contact members which engagethem, thus establishing the ordinary electric circuit so that metal isdeposited from the solution upon the conductive areas of the bases.

The apparatus described in the patent is in general satisfactory and itprovides means for producing electroplated bases at a high rate ofproduction with all of the bases of substantially uniform quality. Inthe apparatus 'illustrated in the patent, however, each anode paratus isintended as an improvement over that of the patent with respectprimarily to certain of its electrical features.

In the new apparatus, the conveyor carries frames, generally of rectanular shape and having an open, center. he longitudinal frame memberscarry distributor bars which support the anodes, in the form of platesof a shape generally corresponding to the deposit to be made. Theseanode plates are suspended from bars which rest at one end directly on adistributor bar. This distributor bar is connected electrically to ashoe which bears on the positive bus bar ofthe cell and the weight ofthe anodes provides a good contact between the distributing bar and theanode supporting bar in each instance. The other end of each anodesupporting bar is enclosed within an insulating member. Mounted on eachanode are spacer blocks of insulating material which project beyond thefaces of the anode and on each anode supporting bar and insulatedtherefrom is a cathode bar which is provided with a. plurality ofcontact strips which depend from either side of the cathode bar andoverlie the faces of the spacer blocks. These contact strips arearranged to lie in contact with the conducting surfaces of the elementswhich are to be plated and one end of-each cathode bar extends aroundthe insu' lated end of the anode supporting bar and contacts with thesecond or negative distributor bar which is electrically connected by aspring pressed shoe to the negative bus bar of the cell. With thisarrangement, all the anodes receive current from a single bar on whichthey rest and all the contact strips which receive current from thebases deliver it to a single bar. The weight of the anodes insures thatgood contact will be made between these bars and the parts engaging themand current is received from and delivered to the bus bars by heavyshoes having extended faces. Sparking dificulties are thus avoidedandthe apparatus is also very easy to manipulate.

Fig. -5 is a View in verticaltransverse seeside elevation of a tion of'an electrolytic cell showing one of the carriages partly in section,

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a carriage withcertain parts removed,

Fig.7 is a sectional view on the line 77 of Fig. 5, and,

Fig. 8 isa view in side elevation of one of the contacts used.

\Vith reference now to the drawings the apparatus is shown as includinganelectrolytic cell 10 which may be made of any convenient material butis preferably formedof concrete and provided with a mastic protectivelining 11 of some material unaffected by the electrolyte. The completeapparatus includes a pair of these tanks which have a considerablelength and are placed one aboye the other to conserve floor space.Mounted on top of each longitudinal wall of the tank is a base member 12secured to the wall in any convenient manner and providing a support forside rails 13. These rails provide a track for the wheels 14 of theconveyor chains 15. The conveyor is made up of double links 16 (Fig. 6)and at suitable intervals the cross pins 17 of the links are providedwith the wheels or rollers 14. Each link 18 connecting the pins 17 hassecured to it a main cross shaft 19 from which the carriage issuspended.

This carriage includes a pair of side frame members 20 connected by rods21 at either end and depending from the rods are frame members 22terminating at their ends in hooks 23 which hang from the cross bars 21.The members 22 are likewise connected by cross bars 24 which with thebars 21 provide an anchorage for abutment means.

Each frame member 22 (Fig. 5) is of angle section and carries aninsulating member 25 which may take the form of a bar of wood secured inthe angle of the member 22 in any convenient way. Mounted on theinsulating member 25 is a distributor bar 26 extending the length ofthe'carriage. This distributor bar has a flat portion resting on the topof the insulating bar and a contact strip 27 extendingupwardly therefromalong one edge of theinsulator bar. The distributor bar is connected bya pair of projecting tongues 28 to a spring strip 29 having the shape ofa double U, each tongue 28 being connected to an upper bend of thespring strip. This strip is connected at its mid-portion and at.

by means of the spring into contact with the positive bus bar 31 securedto one of the base members 12 (Fig. 5). This positive bus bar is ofangle-shape and is bolted to the base member and supported by aninsulating block 32. The contactstrip with the spring strip togetherform the contact shoe by which current is taken from the positive busbar and led to the distributor bar 26.

The opposite frame member 22 also has an insulating bar 25 which carriesa distributor bar 33, of a shape somewhat similar to the bar 26 buthaving a shorter upwardly extending edge-3-it. The distributor bar isconnected by tongues 35 to a second contact shoe similar to thatpreviously described. This contact shoe travels on a negative bus bar 36of the cell which is of angle section and secured to the 7 opposite basemember 12 The anodes used in the apparatus consist of plates 37 havingthree upwardly extending tongues 38 the central tongue'being of lessheight than those on either side of it. The end tongues have slots 39 inwhich are engaged hooks40 of a supporting'bar 4.1. This bar resting atone end on the upwardly extending portion 27 of the distributor bar 26makes a good contact therewith due to the weight of the anode. Theopposite end of the bar 11 has an insulating cap 42 and an insu latingstrip 43 of wood or similar material is secured to the face of the uppersupporting bar 41. Mounted on the anode is a pair of separator blocks44. of any suitable insulating material such as wood treated to be inertto the electrolyte. These separator blocks as shown in Fig. a projectbeyond either face of the anode a suitable distance and they serve tohold the bases out of contact with the anode and also to partially maskthe anode so as to expose an area thereof which corresponds in shape totheshape of the area of the base which is to be p lated.

Each anode also carries a cathode bar with contact strips dependingtherefrom. This cathode bar 45 is of conducting material and it isprovided with apertures 46 through which project centering pins 46'extending upwardly from the insulating strip -13. Secured to the cathodebar at suitable points along it are metallic strips -17 which serve ascontacts. These strips have portions which depend on either side of thebar and they are connected thereto electricz'illy. At one end the barhas a- U-shaped portion 48 and it is placed in position on the anodesupporting bar 41 with the U -shaped part 48 extending around theinsulating cap 42 of the anode supporting bar, the relation of the partsbeing as shown in Fig. 5. In this position the terminal 48 of thecathode bar contacts with the upwardly projecting part 34 ofthecathodeits contact strips is mounted in placeon eachv anode supportingbar with the end of the cathode bar projecting around the insulating endof the supporting bar. The parts in this relation are now placed on aframe with one end of each anode bar resting on the positive distributorbar and they-shaped endof each cathode bar resting on the'negativedistributor bar. In the apparatus as illustrated there are eleven anodeassemblies mounted in a single carriage and between each pair of anodesis placed a pair of bases 49.. These bases are of any suitable materialwhich has previously been treated so that the areas of the base whichare to be plated have a conducting film. The bases are placed backtoback with their conductive areas facing the anodes. An abutment bar orwedge 50 is now placed in. position with its upper end lying between thetransverse bars 21 and 24 and the first anode assembly is moved intocontact with it. A pair of basesis now placed in position between thisassembly and the one next to it and the second assembly is moved towardthe abutment or wedge so that i the bases are held in position betweenthe two assembles. This operation is repeated until the ten pairs ofbases are in position whereupon another abutment bar or wedge 51 isforced down between the transverse bars 21 and 24 at theo-pposite end oftheframe and a third wedge 52 is forced into position between the upperend of the wedge 51 and thebar 21 to cause the assemblies and bases tobe held tightly together by endwise pressure.

The conveyor by whichthe anodes with their various associated parts andthe bases are carried through. the electrolytic cells moves at a lowrate of speed and the tanks are properly proportioned and the currentdensity regulated so that a deposit of the desired thickness will bemade in a .complete circuit of the conveyor. At one end of each tank thecarriages are lowered into the electrolyte and at the opposite end thecarriages are removed. At one point of removal a workmanis stationed whoremoves the wedges orabutment bars 51 and 52 and slides the first anodeassembly along its supporting means so as to free the bar of bases whichlie in contact with it. Another pair of bases is then placed in positionand the second anode assembly is then moved to hold these bases-tightlyand to free the next pair of completed bases. These operations arerepeated until all of the completed or finished bases have been replacedby implated bases and the operations may be carried on so rapidly thatit is not necessary to interrupt the conveyor movement. Owing to thefact that the anodes are carried on the frames, atjthe same time thatthe bases are removed the condition of the anodes may be inspected andsuch anodes. as. require replacement may readily ,be changed at thattime.

7 Owing to the large areas which are to be plated, a heavy current flowsfrom the positive bus bar to the anode bars and is likewise withdrawnthrough the cathode bar and delivered to the negative bus bar. The useof such heavy currents has caused considerable difiiculty in theprovision of suitable contact members which make sliding contact withthe bus bars as the carriages move. The present contact shoes, however,have been found to obviate all these difficulties and to distribute thecurrent properly so that all of the bases accordingly may be kept incontinuous use for indefinite periods.

I claim: Y

1. In apparatus for electrodeposition, the combination of anelectrolytic cell. a positive and a negative bus bar disposed adjacentthe cell, a frame movable along the cell and car-- rying a plurality ofanodes and cathodes, a pair of shoes carried by the frame and contactingwith the positive and negative bus bars respectively, and electricalconnections between the anodes and the shoe contacting with the positivebus bar maintained by the weight of the anodes, and between the cathodesand the negative bus bar through the other shoe. I

2. In apparatus for electrodcposition, the combination of anelectrolytic cell, a positive and a negative bus bar disposed adjacentthe cell, a frame movable along the cell and carrying a pluralityofanodes and cathodes, a distributor bar on the frame connectedelectIica-lly to the anodes, the electrical connections between theanodes and the said bus bar being maintained in part by the weight ofthe anodes, a second distributor bar on the frame connected electricallyto the cathodes, and shoessecured to the frame and contacting'with thepositive and negative bus bars, these shoes being connected electrically'ill ill)

tive bus bar, this shoe being connected to one distributor bar, a secondshoe secured to the frame and running on the negative bus bar,

this shoe being connected to the other distributor bar, a plurality ofanodes supported on the distributor bars, these anodes beingelectrically connected to the positively charged bar and insulated fromthe other, the said electrical connections being maintained by t-heWeight of the anodes, and a plurality of cathodes supported by the frameand electrically connected to the negatively charged distributor bar.

4. In apparatus forelectrodeposition, the combination of an electrolyticcell, a positive and a negative bus bar disposed adjacent the cell, aframe movable along the cell, a pair of distributor bars on the frameelectrically connected respectivel to the positive and negative busbars,anc a plurality of anodes to each shoe, a plurality of anodes mountedon.

the frame and having parts held in contact with the positive distributorbar by the weight of the anodes, a plurality of cathodes on the frame,and connections leading from the cathodes to the negative distributorbar and held incontact therewith by the weight of the anodes.

6. In apparatus for electrodeposition, the combination of anelectrolytic cell, a positive and a negative bus bar adjacent the cell,a plurality of anodes and cathodes movable in a group along the cell, asingle contact member engaging the positive bus bar and supplyingcurrent to all the anodes of the group, a single contact member engagingthe negative bus bar and delivering current thereto from all thecathodes of the group, and connections between thc'anodes, the cathodesand their respective contact members, the said connections beingmaintained in part by the weight of the anodes.

7. In apparatus for electrodcposition, the combination of anelectrolytic'ccll, a positive and a negative bus bar adjacent the cell,a frame movable along the cell, a plurality of anodes supported on theframe. a plurality of cathodes disposed between the anodes, meanscarried by the frame for drawing current from the positive bus bar anddelivering it to allthe anodes, the said means being rendered efi'ectivein part by the weight of the 1,eee,cse

anodes and means carried by the frame for receiving current from all thecathodes and delivering it to the negative bus bar, the said meanstogether providing a support for the anodes.

8. In apparatus for electrodeposition, the combination of anelectrolytic cell, a positive and a negative busjbar'adjacent the cell,a

frame movable alon'g'the cell, aplurality of anodes-supported on theframe, a plurality of cathodes disposed between the anodes, dis-.

tributor bars mounted on the frame means connecting each bar to one ofthe bus bars, the bars together providing a support for the'anodes, andmeans contacting with one bar and bearing a part ofthe weight of theanodes for receiving current from the cathodes and delivering it to thesaid distributor bar.

9. "In'apparatus for electrodeposition, the combination of anelectrolytic cell, a positive and a negative bus-bar adjacent the cell,a'

frame'movable along the cell, a pair of distributor bars carried by theframe, each bar being connected electrically to one of the bus bars, ananode supported on the distributor bars but connected electrically toone only of the bars. this connection being maintained in part by theWeight of the anode, a cathode disposed adjacent the anode and means forconnecting the cathode electrically to the distributor bar with whichthe anode is out of electrical contact.

10. In apparatus for electrodeposition. the combination of anelectrolytic cell, a positive and a negative bus bar adjacent the cell,a

frame movable along the cell, a pair of discombination of anelectrolytic cell, a positive and a negative bus bar adjacent the cell,a frame movable along the cell. a plurality of anodes and a plurality ofcathodes carried by the frame and a pair of shoes secured to the frame,each shoe bearing resiliently on one of the bus bars, and means forconnecting 'one shoe electrically to theanode's and the other shoeelectrically to the'cathodes, the said connecting means being renderedeffective by the weight of the anodes.

12. In apparatus for clectrodeposition, the combination of anelectrolytic cell, a positive and a negative bus bar adjacent the cell,a frame movable along the cell, a pair of distributor bars on the frameand a two-part shoe connected to each distributor bar, one shoe beingadapted to bear against one of the bus bars and having a contact member,the area of which is extended in the direction of movement of the frame,and a resilient connecting member between the contact member and thedistributor bar.

13. In apparatus for electrodeposition, the combination of anelectrolytic cell, a positive and a negative bus bar adjacent the cell,a

frame movable along the cell, a distributor bar carried by the frame anda two-part shoe I connected electrically to the distributor bar andbearing against the bus bar, this shoe having a contact member, the areaof which is extended in the direction of movement of the frame, and aspring member secured to said contact member and to the distributor bar.

14. In apparatus for. electrodeposition, the combination of anelectrolytic cell, a positive and a negative bus bar adjacent the cell,a frame movable along the cell, a distributor bar at each side of saidframe, means connecting one distributor bar electrically to the positivebus bar and the other distributor bar electrically to the negative busbar, an anode supporting bar resting at its ends on the distributor barsand in electrical contact with only one of said bars, a cathode contactstrip mounted on the said supporting bar and insulated therefrom, thisstrip having a portion interposed between one end of the said supportingbar and the second distributor bar, and an anode depending from thesupporting bar, the Weight of the anode providing a good electricalconnection between the anode supporting bar and one distributor bar andbetween the said portion of the oathode strip and the other distributorbar.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ELMER M. \VANAMAKER.

